Commencement in Review | Fall 2013

Graduating University of Idaho students traded in their classroom learning environment for a degree at the Saturday, Dec. 14 Winter Commencement, but they will continue to learn in the less formal setting of life experience.

“Some of the lessons I’ve learned from my hopscotch of a life have been more formal ones — occurring within the four walls of classrooms — what I call ‘schooling,’” said Corinne Mantle-Bromley, commencement speaker and College of Education dean. “Other learning has been less formal, happening outside the classroom — what I call ‘education.’ You leave the University of Idaho with both.”

The University of Idaho graduated 925 students with a total of 969 degrees: 692 undergraduate, 51 doctorate, 21 law, 7 specialist and 198 master degrees. For those attending the Moscow commencement ceremony, Mantle-Bromley focused on the most memorable teachers in her life as a student.

From her grandpa Abbott, a gentleman with an eighth-grade education who taught her curiosity and goal attainment as a child on the hunt for unique gift requests, to the quiet, unengaged ninth grader, being abused by her father and brothers, who taught her the danger of judging and the need for empathy, to her most recent teachers, UI students showing kindness to her, each other and faculty and staff around campus, Mantle-Bromley is still learning.

“While some of your learning, the formal lessons, is coming to an end, your education will continue for as long as you let it,” said Mantle Bromley. “I hope you continue to learn at every opportunity. I hope you take the time to notice those around you. I hope you nurture goodness and curiosity. I hope you mentor others even as you seek out mentors for yourselves. I hope that you carry the specialness of the University of Idaho and this time in your lives with you wherever you go. Be that person who gives directions to a lost stranger and holds the door open for others. Be that person who encourages those around you to be the best they can be.”

Mantle-Bromley has lived and studied in five different states and on five different continents. Earning a masters and a doctorate degree from the University of Idaho, she was hired as the dean of the College of Education in 2010. Previously, she was the interim associate dean of Washington State University’s College of Education. As well as her extensive experience, Mantle-Bromley has been recognized for numerous awards including multiple Outstanding Teacher Awards and for her roles with the non-profit Institute for Educational Inquiry.

Interim President Don Burnett congratulated graduates on the successful completion of quality, student-centered, interactive learning. He encoraged graduates to choose an anniversary to reflect on post-commencment accomplishments. He hopes that service will become an essential part of each graduate’s professional life, along with a commitment to personally live life fully, generously and vigorously with active minds and hearts.

“To paraphrase a professor at one of my own commencements years ago, there are poems to be read, music to be heard, languages to be learned, museums to be built, games to be played, poor and disadvantaged to be helped, children to be nurtured, spouses and partners to be cherished, cities to be built, injustices to be remedied, noble causes to be advocated, enduring values to be upheld, underdogs to be cheered and a flagship university to be supported,” said Burnett. “Go forth, do well, and … do good.”

Alumnus Michael Kirk was conferred with an honorary degree, a doctorate of humane letters, for his distinguished work pulling back the curtain on politics, government and culture. Kirk earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism, with a radio-TV news option, from the University of Idaho in 1971. He has earned distinction as an award-winning documentary filmmaker, and he is one of the creators of the popular PBS documentary series “Frontline.”

“In my 40-plus years with public television, I have never known a documentary journalist like Michael Kirk. Nor is there anyone his equal practicing today,” said Bill Moyers, Public Affairs Television, host of Moyers & Company on PBS, in an email. “Of course there are outstanding documentarians … but Mike is unique for combining filmmaking and journalism. The range of his work is extraordinary and the integrity of it, from one story to the next, has remained unchallenged.”

Kirk also is a University of Idaho Hall of Fame inductee and also has been a recipient of many major journalism awards including two Peabody Awards, two DuPont-Columbia Awards, 10 Emmy Awards and six Writers Guild of America Awards.